Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Texas

SPRING 2017 Inside Skull & Crossbones Society Members ~ p. 2 Chapter Report ~ p. 3 Five Questions for Tom Hicks '68 ~ p. 4 ΣΦΕ T E X A S A L P H A s U N I V E R S I T Y O F T E X A S S I G M A P H I E P S I L O N A E CCOLAD Alumni BoArd FAcilitAtes undergrAduAte development this spring G reetings from Austin! The house is alive and intact and the world continues to revolve around West Campus—or at least that's what its inhabitants think! New Members' Strong GPA The fall semester ended well, as usual, with chapter manpower over 170. Our 53 new members enjoyed (?) their first season of Longhorn football with a blistering social, philanthropic, and academic schedule. UT grades are finally out. The new member class ended with a 3.25 GPA. Sixteen of these men had a 3.5 or higher, including four 4.0s. Our older actives averaged a 3.30. The chapter ranks sixth out of all fraternities at UT, but is second behind ZBT out of the large fraternities (we have 171 men). Impressive Leadership in Place We start the spring 2017 semester with a new slate of officers led by President Andrew Boyd '17. The alumni board met with the officers several weeks ago to plan out the year. This is an impressive group of leaders who want to improve upon the work of the past officers. The chapter is going to concentrate on developing more programming for upperclassmen and continued improvement of the overall academic performance of the chapter. Alumni Board Efforts To that end, we are lucky to have two new additions to the alumni board— Daniel Liu, SMU '08 and Ben Gooding, Arkansas '15. Both bring fresh ideas and youth to an aging, stale board (present company excluded). Daniel is helping establish a residential learning center at the house with, hopefully, the involvement of UT faculty, and Ben is spearheading the chapter's Balanced Man programing. This year, we took the officers to the regional Carlson Leadership Academy in Oklahoma City in February (http://sigep.org/the-sigep- experience/events/carlson/) and will take them to the national Grand Chapter Conclave in Orlando in August (http://sigep.org/the-sigep- experience/events/grand-chapter-conclave/). Both events give the officers the chance to improve their leadership skills as well as engage with the national breadth of SigEp. These trips are funded by your contributions to the Skull & Crossbones Society. Recruitment Is Near With the spring comes recruitment. Keep in mind, recruitment begins with the chapter's Ranch Party in early March. If you have sons, grandsons, or other young men coming to Texas, send your recommendations to Jason Goolsby '19 at jasongoolsby@utexas.edu. If you have any alumni news or contact updates, send those to texasalphaalums@gmail.com. Don't forget to join our LinkedIn group at www.linkedin.com/groups/3089903. Finally, the Founders' Day banquet is April 22. We hope you can make it! HFF, Lynn Butler '88 AVC President L ast fall, we lost Brother Sacha Patin '92 to a three-year battle with metastatic melanoma. The Texas Alpha Chapter honored his life with the dedication of a tree in front of the fraternity house. The venue was the perfect setting as SigEp held such a special place in Sacha's heart for all the lifelong friendships he forged within its walls. Sacha cherished his friends and brothers and loved bringing them together as he did again on this special day. It was a great tribute to have so many friends, family, and active members in attendance. Sacha lived a full life, always maintaining his sense of humor and keeping a positive attitude no matter the circumstances. This attitude carried through to the end. He was confident in his faith and never questioned God's plan for his life. He was always the one bringing humor and inspiration to those who tried to lift him up during his battle with cancer. We can all learn a little something from the mantra by which he lived his life: "It is what it is." Do not worry about tomorrow and live each day to the fullest. Matthew 6:25-34 Many thanks to Carlos De Ayla '83, Jerry Smith '79, Jim Strickland '79, Eddie King '89, Greg Curran '88, April Glenn (Golden Heart 1991), and all those who contributed to the John Tyler Balanced Man Foundation in Sacha's name to make the dedication a reality. HONORING SACHA PATIN '92 Alumni, family, and friends of Sacha Patin '92 gathered for the dedication of a memorial tree in front of the SigEp house. Left to right: Page Motes, James Motes '90, Kelly Patin Rutz, Sandra Patin, Ike Claypool '91, and Lori Claypool. Maury Ruggles, Todd Lindsley '88, John Staleski '90, Kelly Patin Rutz, James Motes '90, Ike Claypool '91, Sandra Patin, and Jeffrey Fisher '92 were among those who returned to campus to remember the life and legacy of Sacha.

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